Oh yeah, China has a great military for centuries conquering all parts of the world. Their men and women are now dominating all the slams. Can't wait to apply Chinese war strategies to my Sunday doubles.

Oh yeah, China has a great military for centuries conquering all parts of the world. Their men and women are now dominating all the slams. Can't wait to apply Chinese war strategies to my Sunday doubles.

Click to expand...

Actually, they dominated world trade for centuries while Europeans were still frightened of the thunder gods. (peasants always believe in thunder gods.)

They sent ships all over Africa and Asia to collect rulers and bring them to festivals and events years before Columbus and co.
(amusingly, although aware of the fledgling nations of Europe, the Chinese considered them too primitive to be included)

in the 15th Century, a change of policy caused China to withdraw inwards, forfeiting their domination of the world's oceans..

"27,000 men aboard 317 ships. The most impressive vessels were the treasure ships, built of hardwood, 130 metres long and 50 metres wide; by the side of them, Columbus’s 28-metre long Santa Maria, in which he reached the Americas, would have looked like a dinghy, and he had only three ships and 270 men."

as for tennis, they had more finalists in the most recent grand slam than the USA managed

"27,000 men aboard 317 ships. The most impressive vessels were the treasure ships, built of hardwood, 130 metres long and 50 metres wide; by the side of them, Columbus’s 28-metre long Santa Maria, in which he reached the Americas, would have looked like a dinghy, and he had only three ships and 270 men."

as for tennis, they had more finalists in the most recent grand slam than the USA managed

Click to expand...

I'm not sure that Columbus' fleet was indicative of the height of European ship-building at the time. :shock:

I'm not sure that Columbus' fleet was indicative of the height of European ship-building at the time. :shock:
.

Click to expand...

No they weren't. Remember he first went to Portugal which did not support his plan. Only then did he ask Spain for help. They gave him 3 caravels which were considered smaller ships compared to the carracks which were much larger and over 1100 tons. Comparing a fleet assembled by orders the emperor of China to Columbus who had to basically beg for his ships and was granted 3 small ships to go out on what was considered at the time "far out" idea is rather ridiculous.

I remember this from history class last year. China's navy and shipbuilding was the most advanced in the 15th century, but political turmoil prompted records to be destroyed and China retreated into isolationism.

do you guys know how big a 130 metre ship actually is? and how far beyond anything built in europe for following 400 years they were?

Click to expand...

Many scholars disagree about the actual length of the treasure ships. The largest ships in the 130 m range were felt to be unseaworthy and only for display on the Yangtze river. Most scholars think the actual expedition ships for exploring were in the 60-70 m range.

After Zheng He, China basically didn't go further with exploration while European exploration continued basically for another 500 years. It is really not the size of the ships that matter. It is what you do with the ships. I am not sure why you are trying to turn a thread in the tennis tips section into a China versus Europe thing.